Putin’s idea of democracy ‘not mine,’ says Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday described his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, as a strong leader but one who carries an idea of democracy that “is not mine.”

“I think he’s very strong man, he’s a strong president,” Macron said on “Fox News Sunday.” “He wants a great Russia. People are proud with his policy. He is extremely tough with minorities and his opponents with an idea of democracy, which is not mine.”

Macron avoided weighing in on the special counsel’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, saying it doesn’t affect how France interacts with President Donald Trump.

“To me, there is no impact,” Macron said.

“[The] people of the United States voted for President Trump and elected him. You have your system. You are a free country with a rule of law … here in this office. I am not the one to judge — or in a certain way to explain — to your people [who] should be your president.”

Macron did call on Trump to abandon his recently announced steel and aluminum tariffs, or make an exemption for the European Union.

“I hope he will not implement this new tariffs, and he will decide … for an exemption for the European Union,” Macron said. “You don’t make trade war with your allies.“

Perry Winkle

Perry Winkle

Where is the EU department and minister of foreign affairs?

Posted on 4/22/18 | 9:58 PM CEST

mike lacey

Not crazy about Macrons idea of democracy a neocon banker. He is quite willing to destroy sovereign democracy. The neocons /neolibs have managed governance by elections that they have learned to control”. Under managed democracy, the electorate is prevented from having a significant impact on policies adopted by the state through the continuous employment of public relations techniques.

Highly concentrated media corporations, maintaining the illusion of a “free press”.
Dissent is allowed, although the corporate media serves as a filter, allowing most people, with limited time available to keep themselves apprised of current events, only to hear points of view which the corporate media deems to be “serious”.

These Cheap labor neoliberal conservatives like Macron. They have taken a corrosive social vision and dressed it up with a “respectable” sounding ideology which all boils down to the cheap labor they depend on to make their fortunes. The larger the labor supply, the cheaper it is. The more desperately you need a job, the cheaper you’ll work! Cheap competition from overseas is another strategy in their arsenal. Free Trade agreements is another weapon they will use to keep you over a barrel.